Tarxien Rainbows 2
Joao Pedro 12 pen; Baker 64;
Birkirkara 2
Vukanac 2; Miccoli 30;
Birkirkara dropped their first points of the season after a 2-2 draw against a battling Tarxien Rainbows side yesterday.
It was a disappointing result for title challengers Birkirkara who dominated much of the match but poor defending came back to haunt them as the gallant Rainbows twice fought back to hold on for a merited point and maintain their unbeaten start to the league trek.
When Nikola Vukanac put the Stripes ahead early on one thought that Birkirkara were in for a comfortable evening but the Rainbows had other ideas and drew level through a Joao Pedro penalty.
Gradually the Stripes regained the initiative and Fabrizio Miccoli put them back in front.
Giovanni Tedesco’s men continued to dominate proceedings but could not add a third goal and Tarxien punished them with a second equaliser from Ebiabowei Baker.
Justin Haber returned to the Birkirkara goal after he was dropped for the 4-0 win over Naxxar Lions last week as Ini Akpan was missing from the squad. Joseph Zerafa started at right-back instead of Ryan Camenzuli.
Luke Montebello was handed his debut for the Rainbows following his loan move from Valletta in midweek. The young striker started ahead of Danilo who had to settle for a place on the bench.
The Stripes were off to a blistering start as inside the opening two minutes they were already a goal ahead. From a corner, Miccoli’s delivery was met by Vukanac who drilled the ball home with a half volley.
In the action leading to the goal, Tarxien defender Matthew Tabone suffered an injury and he was unable to continue.
The Rainbows quickly regrouped and managed to restore equilibrium 10 minutes later when Cain Attard handled the ball inside the area and referee Adrian Azzopardi immediately pointed to the spot.
From the penalty Joao Pedro lobbed his shot over Haber.
Birkirkara looked rattled and Tarxien continue to venture forward with Pedro’s surging runs forcing the Stripes defenders to resort to a series of fouls to stop him.
However, poor marking cost Tarxien dearly when Zerafa sped clear on the right before picking the unmarked Miccoli who blasted past Andrea Cassar.
Vukanac had the ball in the Tarxien net a second time on 39 minutes when he headed home from a Miccoli free-kick but the ‘goal’ was annulled as the Serbian defender was adjudged to be in an offside position.
Tarxien looked to get back in contention on the restart and on 54 minutes coach Jacques Scerri withdrew Alves and roped in Anderson as he look to inject fresh legs to his team’s forward line.
However, it was Birkirkara who threatened first when Cassar dived to his right to push away Miccoli’s free-kick. From the corner, the Tarxien custodian again did well to repel Mauricio Mazzetti’s header.
On 63 minutes Tarxien protested for a penalty when Montebello fell under the challenge of Vukanac but the referee waved play on.
But the Rainbows struck a minute later when from a Triston Caruana corner in came Baker who headed past Haber.
The Stripes almost regained the lead when Miccoli’s rasping volley rattled the bar.
Birkirkara continued to push forward and 11 minutes from time Mazzetti connected with Miccoli’s corner but his header finished just over.
Emerson Marcelina was lucky to remain on the pitch after he pushed Carlos Hevia in an off-the-ball incident with referee Azzopardi taking no action.
The Stripes continued to push more men forward and a minute from time Miccoli was awarded space on the edge of the area but the Italian fired wide.
In added time, Birkirkara almost struck the winner when Liliu saw his low drive pushed away by Cassar onto the post and from the rebound Camenzuli’s effort was cleared off the line by Bruno.
Desira Buttigieg signs for Birkirkara
Birkirkara yesterday secured the services of young striker Matteo Desira Buttigieg from St Andrew’s.
The 22-year-old put pen to paper on a five-year contract.
The two clubs agreed that De-sira Buttigieg will not join the Stripes with immediate effect but spend the rest of the 2015-16 campaign on loan at St Andrew’s to gain valuable playing time.
Birkirkara
J. Haber-5, C. Attard-5 (76 Z. Muscat), N. Vukanac-6, M. Mazzetti-6, J. Zerafa-6.5, E. Marcelina-5, G. Sciberras-5.5 (67 Liliu-5), P. Fenech-5.5, F. Temile-5 (79 R. Camenzuli), F. Miccoli-6.5, V. Plut-5.
Tarxien Rainbows
A. Cassar-6.5, M. Caruana-5.5, Bruno-7, T. Tabone Desira-6, T. Caruana-6, C. Hevia-6.5, L. Montebello-5.5 (76 A. Azzopardi), D. Zerafa-6.5, A. Alves-5 (54 Anderson-5.5), M. Tabone (10 E. Baker-6.5), J. Pedro-7.5.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Sciberras, Fenech, Baker, Caruana, Temile, Joao Pedro.
BOV player of the match: Joao Pedro (Tarxien Rainbows).